Adjustable bed



Aug. 29, 1967 P. H. M. SCHVILTE ADJUSTABLE BED Filed Aug.

2 sheets sheec 1 PAULUS H. M. say/U5 F l G. 3

ATTORNEY g- 9 1967 P. H. M. SCHILTE 3,337,831

ADJUSTABLE BED Filed Aug. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PAULUS H. M.SCH/LTE ATTORNEY United States Patent 'Ofitice 3,337,881 Patented Aug.29, 1967 3,337,881 ADJUSTABLE BED Paulus Henricus Maria Schilte, 60Herkimer St., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Filed Aug. 13, 1965, Ser. No.479,389 7 Claims. (Cl. -202) The invention relates to an adjustable bedand in particular, to an adjustable bed of the type which may be usedeither with or without a mattress, especially in emergency or temporaryuses.

Conventional bed design has for many years comprised a bed springproviding an essentially flexible support and a mattress with or withoutadditional springs supported on the bed spring. This design severelyrestricts the free circulation of air around the body and tends to causeperspiration, especially when, as in institutions, the bed is occupiedfor any length of time. In addition, beds of this type are virtuallyincapable of adjustment to suit different persons thus requiring eitherthe use of a single standardized springing for all persons which isobviously unsatisfactory, or acquiring the manufacture of a number ofdifferent beds and mattresses having different degrees of springing,which tends to be relatively expensive. In addition, conventionalmattress design involves continual discarding and replacement ofmattresses at a relatively high expense, particularly in institutionssuch as hospitals, nursing homes and the like.

A further disadvantage is the difficulty of storing conventional beds.In the majority of cases, both the bed spring and the mattress are ofapproximately equal depth and require a very considerable storage spacesince they cannot be stored in a reduced space by folding.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide animproved bed which is readily adjustable to suit different sizes ofpersons and which may be used either with or without a mattress, beingespecially designed for use without a mattress in the majority of cases.

More particularly, it is an objective of the present invention toprovide a bed having the foregoing advantages having a constructionwhich is particularly adapted to nesting when not in use for storage.

More particularly, it is an objective of the present invention toprovide a bed having the foregoing advantages in which the resilientspringing members thereof may be readily replaced as they wear with aminimum of cost.

More particularlyjit is an objective of the present invention to providea bed having the foregoing advantages incorporating means extendingaround the edge of the bed for retaining the bed clothes in positionthereon, especially when the bed is used without a mattress.

More particularly, it is an objective of the present invention toprovide a bed having the foregoing advantages having improved facilitiesfor ventilation around the entire body of the occupant.

The foregoing and other advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention whichis here given by way of example only and with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference devices refer to like parts thereofthroughout the various views and diagrams, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a bed according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged detail top plan view of the corner of thebed of FIGURE 1 enclosed by the lines 2-2;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view, partly broken away of the corner ofthe bed shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE'4 is a sectional side elevation of the bed of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional side elevation of a further embodiment of a bed,corresponding to the position of the section of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a central portion of a bed according to theinvention showing a further embodiment;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional side elevation of a further embodiment of theinvention and showing the side edge of a bed in a location correspondingto the position of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional side elevation along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a detail of the embodiment of FIGURE 6 shownin isolationgand FIGURE 10 is a partial sectional side elevation of afurther embodiment.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 4 it will be seen that this preferredembodiment of the bed consists of an upper frame 10 and a lower frame11, the upper frame 10 being smaller than the lower frame 11. Theseframes 10 and 11 are of tubular construction, and are rectangular inshape. They have rounded corners 12 and 13 respectively. Both frames 10and 11 lie in parallel planes and centre on a common axis. Each frame 10and 11 have a series of holes 14 and 15 respectively, drilled throughthe cross-section of the tubes, one at each corner and at equally spacedintervals between corners. The holes 14 and 15 are in axial alignmentwith each other and are dimensioned to permit spacer bars 16 to fittherein joining the frames 10 and 11 by passing through the holes 14 and15 and being welded in place therein. While the frames.10 and 11 mayvary in relative size so that the spacer bars 16 appear at variousangles it is preferred that the frames 10 and 11 be of such a proportionto each other that the spacer bars 16 are at an angle of about 45 to theplanes of frames 10 and 11. At this angle the beds may be stacked oneinside the other taking up the mini mum of space for storage when not inuse. The resilient support means of this invention, providing both bedspring and mattress comprises strips of rubber or rubber like plasticwebbing 17 and 18 having a certain give or elasticity interwoven overand under normal to each other and are placed over the upper frame 10.The ends of the strips of webbing 17 and 18 are folded over the upperframe 10 around a loose pincher bar 19 and then up and over a fixed bar20. The fixed bar 20 is Welded to the spacer bars 16 at a distance 21from the upper frame 10 so that a double thickness of webbing 17 or 18may pass through the space 21. The pincher bar 19 must be of suflicientdiameter that it will not fall through the space 21 when only a singlethickness of webbing 17 or 18 is used. The means for clipping orfastening the bedding comprises spring clips 22 bent to partiallyenclose the lower frame 11 and having extensions 23 normally lyingapproximately parallel to the spacer bars 16. The upper end of theextension 23 is folded back on itself to form a rectangular shaped loop24. A rubber or rubber-like plastic belt 25 for holding the bedding (notshown) is retained in position by the loop 24.

Referring noW to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that in this preferredembodiment of the bed the upper frame 10 is larger than the lower frame11. In this form the bed is preferred for permanent use such as in ahospital ward or nursing home, etc., as doctors, nurses, etc., will nothave to reach over to work on a patient, also the leg of the bed will beout of the way as Will be apparent later.

Referring now to FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9, it may be desirous to have anopening in the surface of the bed over a given area of the body formedical or hospital treatment, in such cases an opening indicatedgenerally as 26 can be provided in the webbing 17 and 18. This isachieved during the assembly of the bed by providing an are adaptable toopening ring 27 made of circular stock bent to form a square orrectangle of such a size that one side of the square or rectangle willhold three or more strips of webbing 17 and 18; The webbing 17 and 18 isfolded around the opening ring 27 and back under itself as 17a and 18a.

The supporting means of the instant bed are illustrated in FIGURE 10.The lower frame 11 has tapped holes 28 in itat right angles to the planeof the bed to allow insertion of a tubular leg 29, the upper portion ofwhich is threaded 30 for attachment to the frame 11. A foot 31 is weldedto the bottom of the leg 29. This is but one method of fastening a legto the frame as many variations those skilled in the art including theprovision of folding legs by any suitable means (not shown) for ease ofstorage.

In operation, the legs 29 are attached to the frame 11. This assembly isset up on its feet. Rubber webbing 17 is laid across the frame. One endof the webbing 17 is folded over the end of the frame 10, around theloose pincher bar 19 and then up and over the fixed bar 20 and pulledtight enough to lock it in place. This operation is then repeated at theopposite end of the frame. Then webbing 18a is interlaced through thewebbing 17 and at right angles to it. The'webbing 18 is now locked inplace in the same manner as before. The free ends of webbing 17 and 18are now pulled until the desired tension is obtained. It will be notedthat the tension can be varied for different sections of the bed as eachstrip of webbing 17 and 18 can be adjusted independently. If it isdesired to have a hole 26 in the bed, webbing 17 and 18 in'the preferredarea of the hole is fastened to one side of the frame only, the looseends 17a and 18a being folded over the opening ring 27 and brought backunder the top layer of webbing 17 and 18 and locked in place as before.Another strip of webbing 17 and 18 is then placed at the opposite sideof the opening ring and dealt with similarly.

The bed is now ready to be covered with sheets, blankets or otherbedding. The skirt or overhang of the bedding is tucked under the tape25 that encircles the bed, thus holding the bedding in place. Todisassemble, the reverse procedure is followed, then the unit can bestored. As in one of its preferred embodiments the units can be stackedone inside the other, thus occupying a minimum of space.

The foregoing is a description ment of the invention which is here madeby way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited tothe specific steps described but comprehends all such variations thatcome Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims,

of a preferred embodi- I claim:

1. An adjustable bed assembly for use with persons of differing bodyweight and comprising: a rectangular bed frame having side and endportions and means for supporting said frame; strips of elasticresilient material extending from side to side and end to end of saidbed frame interwoven with one another defining together a resilientbody-engaging surface; a rectangular bed support frame having side andend portions, said frame being of different dimensions from said bedframe; frame junction members extending between said bed frame and saidsupport frame and spacing the same apart from one another inparallel'planes; a tension rod member fastened to said junction membersparallel to said side and end portions of said bed frame and spacedtherefrom a predetermined distance; and clamping rod means of across-sectional dimension about equal to or greater than saidpredetermined distance and normally held adjacent to said tension rod byengagement with said strip material.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means defining anopening in said interwoven strip material.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including fabric gripping bandmeans extending around said bed frame spaced therefrom for engagement ofbed clothes on said bed.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including resilient bandsupporting members of spring metal locating same in position asaforesaid.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including leg means mounted onsaid support frame.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support frame is ofa greater size than said bed frame.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support frame is ofa smaller size than said bed frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID I WILLIAMOWSKY, PrimaryExaminer.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BED ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH PERSONS OF DIFFERING BODY WEIGHT AND COMPRISING: A RECTANGULAR BED FRAME HAVING SIDE AND END PORTIONS AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME; STRIPS OF ELASTIC RESILIENT MATERIAL EXTENDING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND END TO END OF SAID BED FRAME INTERWOVEN WITH ONE ANOTHER DEFINING TOGETHER A RESILIENT BODY-ENGAGING SURFACE; A RECTANGULAR BED SUPPORT FRAME HAVING SIDE AND END PORTIONS, SAID FRAME BEING OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS FROM SAID BED FRAME; FRAME JUNCTION MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID BED FRAME AND SAID SUPPORT FRAME AND SPACING THE SAME APART FROM ONE ANOTHER IN PARALLEL PLANES; A TENSION ROD MEMBER FASTENED TO SAID JUNCTION MEMBERS PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE AND END PORTIONS OF SAID BED FRAME AND SPACED THEREFROM A PREDETERMINED 